13 replies to this topic

[Ryaquaza1]

Long story short, earlier today when I was sleeping my father dug a pack of 20 Tesco seafood sticks from out of the bottom of the freezer and put them on the side to defrost (which must have been 7 or so hours before I ate them although I’m not sure) and Around 3 and a half hours ago I ate about 3/4 the bag (yes I’m greedy) without checking the date. Just before making this account I checked the date when going back for more, it was best before end SEPTEMBER 2019!!! ITS OVER A YEAR OLD AND WASNT EVEN DEFROSTED IN THE FRIDGE LIKE YOUR SUPPOSED TO!! They still tasted and smelled ok but the red portion was almost pink and it could just be me but they separated a lot easier than normal although that could just be the make. I do feel a little queazy now but I’m unsure if that’s just me panicking.

I literally just make this account and posted this out of pure desperation since I’m panicking heavily given how being physically sick is my worst phobia and google really isn’t giving me any answers. Thanks in advance 

Edited by Jacob Timperley, 13 December 2020 - 11:04 PM.

[Charles.C]

Long story short, earlier today when I was sleeping my father dug a pack of 20 Tesco seafood sticks from out of the bottom of the freezer and put them on the side to defrost (which must have been 7 or so hours before I ate them although I’m not sure) and Around 3 and a half hours ago I ate about 3/4 the bag (yes I’m greedy) without checking the date. Just before making this account I checked the date when going back for more, it was best before end SEPTEMBER 2019!!! ITS OVER A YEAR OLD AND WASNT EVEN DEFROSTED IN THE FRIDGE LIKE YOUR SUPPOSED TO!! They still tasted and smelled ok but the red portion was almost pink and it could just be me but they separated a lot easier than normal although that could just be the make. I do feel a little queazy now but I’m unsure if that’s just me panicking.

I literally just make this account and posted this out of pure desperation since I’m panicking heavily given how being physically sick is my worst phobia and google really isn’t giving me any answers. Thanks in advance 

 

Unfortunately, even assuming the original material was "sound," without knowing the compositional/labelling details of "seafood sticks" product and, particularly,  their temperature history during the (apparently) lengthy "hibernation" it's rather difficult/impossible to microbiologically speculate. Chemical changes are an additional, potential, factor.

 

I deduce there was no labelling requirement for any heat treatment prior to consumption.

[Ryaquaza1]

The ingredients listed on the back are:

Water, Surimi (35%), Wheat Starch, Potato Starch, Rapeseed Oil, Sugar, Salt, Dried Egg White, Flavouring, Crab Extract (Crustacean), Colour (Lycopene), Dried Egg. Surimi contains: Alaska Pollock (Fish), Hake (Fish), Sugar.

single stick contains 0.4g of fat, <0.1 saturates, 0.7g of sugar, 0.3g of salt. The back is 290g and each stick is 15g individually wrapped in a film sleeve that covers everything minus its ends.

They’re also called crab sticks (due to the flavour similar to white crab meat) but seafood sticks is what was labelled on the packet. they don’t need to be cooked and labelled ‘Ready to eat once defrosted’. 

 

as for the freezer it was kept in, I’m not sure of the exact temperature since it doesn’t have a digital display although the dial is set just over 6 out of 7 and we get freezer burn a lot so I assume it’s very cold, possibly too cold. Being the winter in the UK our room temperature is below average not sure if this helps.

 

i will say it’s been over 26 hours since I ate them and I’m feeling no Ill affects as of yet besides my usual reflux syntoms I’ve been suffering for awhile now with. Although I’m not really sure how long it takes before you typically fall ill, it seems a lot more complicated than previously thought.

Edited by Ryaquaza1, 14 December 2020 - 04:08 AM.

[Charles.C]

The ingredients listed on the back are:

Water, Surimi (35%), Wheat Starch, Potato Starch, Rapeseed Oil, Sugar, Salt, Dried Egg White, Flavouring, Crab Extract (Crustacean), Colour (Lycopene), Dried Egg. Surimi contains: Alaska Pollock (Fish), Hake (Fish), Sugar.

single stick contains 0.4g of fat, <0.1 saturates, 0.7g of sugar, 0.3g of salt.

They’re also called crab sticks (due to the flavour similar to white crab meat) but seafood sticks is what was labelled on the packet.

 

as for the freezer it was kept in, I’m not sure of the exact temperature since it doesn’t have a digital display although the dial is set just over 6 out of 7 and we get freezer burn a lot so I assume it’s very cold, possibly too cold. Being the winter in the UK our room temperature is below average not sure if this helps.

 

i will say it’s been over 26 hours since I ate them and I’m feeling no Ill affects as of yet besides my usual reflux syntoms I’ve been suffering for awhile now with. Although I’m not really sure how long it takes before you typically fall ill, it seems a lot more complicated than previously thought.

 

Hi Ryaquaza,

 

Thks for details.

 

OK as I understand this is deep frozen, RTE, surimi crab stick. TBH, I have only encountered surimi in chilled products, not frozen.

 

You didn't mention how long been in yr freezer. Label probably gives a shelf life when frozen ?

 

Assuming initial frozen product was OK and yr freezer keeps hard frozen product should be OK for micro. Chemical/physical less sure depending on time in yr freezer etc. but most changes afaik mostly affect organoleptic factors eg rancidity

 

For defrost/holding I enclose some suggested rules.

 

 2+hour+4+hour+Rule.pdf   60.88KB   7 downloads

 

For illness, it varies a lot with food type and mode of problem, eg toxin/non-toxin, experts don't always agree, eg  -

 

https://en.wikipedia...odborne_illness

https://www.cdc.gov/...y/symptoms.html

 

Personally I would say your chances are quite hopeful from a FS POV. Whether reflux makes you more vulnerable I don't know. My sympathies.

[Ryaquaza1]

I don’t believe my acid reflux would affect my vulnerability too much since the doctor said it was a stress thing rather than any underlying condition and tests for any abnormal gut fauna shown up negative, I was on lansoprazole which I know can increase susceptibility by lowering acid levels but I stopped taking it 14 days ago as requested by the doctor.  
 

im not entirely sure how long it was in the freezer, although given its best before end of September 2019 date i assume we bought it in early/mid 2019 and it was left near the bottom of the freezer since then.

I assume the best before date is referring to its frozen shelf life, especially when it says Keep Frozen at -18C or colder. Once defrosted use on the same day and do not refreeze.

 

Here’s a link to the actual product in question if it helps

https://www.tesco.co...ducts/287149425

[SQFconsultant]

I think you will survive.

[Simon]

You reminded me of this oldie.

 

Are my 3 year old fish fingers OK to eat?

 

Best of luck.

Regards,

Simon

[MDaleDDF]

 

You reminded me of this oldie.

 

Are my 3 year old fish fingers OK to eat?

 

Best of luck.

Regards,

Simon

 

That thread is hilarious, thanks for posting that.   Two favorites there:  "Bringing it down to my level", and "I fed to the kids and they lived..."

LOL.

[The Food Scientist]

More of a quality than a food safety issue. You should be fine. (will) :D

[Charles.C]

More of a quality than a food safety issue. You should be fine. (will) :D

 

May depends on the handling but I agree that IMEX Surimi is a popular ingredient in Sandwiches.

[Ryaquaza1]

It was still in its sealed packaging while defrosting so I didn’t really contaminate it as far as I was aware.

 

Although it’s been 51 hours since consumption and I still feel fine, so I think you guys are right about me being safe,. I think

[pHruit]

Although it’s been 51 hours since consumption and I still feel fine, so I think you guys are right about me being safe,. I think

They're "best before" rather than "use by" dated, so the being out of date bit shouldn't be an issue - the former is where the shelf life is limited by quality rather than safety.

 

If it makes you feel any better, I did once do an assessment of a frozen orange juice that was 10 years out of date (production date was last millennium!). It actually tasted great, but I've suffered terrible long-term consequences ever since - it led to a career in the food industry, from which I doubt I'll ever recover  
 

[Charles.C]

They're "best before" rather than "use by" dated, so the being out of date bit shouldn't be an issue - the former is where the shelf life is limited by quality rather than safety.

 

If it makes you feel any better, I did once do an assessment of a frozen orange juice that was 10 years out of date (production date was last millennium!). It actually tasted great, but I've suffered terrible long-term consequences ever since - it led to a career in the food industry, from which I doubt I'll ever recover  
 

 

^^^(red) - Unless perhaps cross-contaminated / incorrectly defrosted / chemical changes ?. As per 2nd para ?

 

Apparently manufacturing date (typically = packing date) is not required by UK so shelf life unknown.

 

Nonetheless, IMEX, most of the "usual suspects" reveal themselves within 2 days, often 1 day if a major hit. But not all [Post 4].

 

I noted that the stipulated storage temperature is IMEX  (not UK) unlikely to be achieved by most commercial, vertical refrigerators.

Edited by Charles.C, 15 December 2020 - 12:25 PM.
added

[Fishlady]

The quality may have deteriorated, but you should be ok. The product should have been fully pasteurized, and as long as it was held at frozen temperatures, that would have prevented any C. Bot concerns.